Push-button control device



1111162051950 k. DEMEULENAERE ETAL 2,512,243

PUSHBUTTON 011111201, DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1944 I INVENTOKS R. Ibeme ulenare J!1, .Dem e u, Z en aez-e Patented June 20, 195 l PUSH-BUTTONCONTROL DEVICE Robert Demeulenaere and Marcel Demeulenaere;

' New York, N. Y. t

Application September 22, 1944, Serial No. 555,360'

15 Claims. (Cl. 74-1033) "This invention relates to a push buttoncontrol and has for its object to provide a device of this character,particularly designed for application to the tuning shaft of a radioreceiving setwhic h permits adjustment of theindividual push buttonswith such high degree of exactness pended claims.

In the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention:Figure l is a planview of the device,'and

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 ofFigure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a support-- ing frame 5 of "suitablesize and shape to' be accommodated within the cabinet or casing of aradio receiving set is provided with front and rear walls 6 and 1,respectively, and anintermediate wall 8. Shafts 9 arranged in ahorizontal row are mounted for combined axial sliding and rotatablemovement in the walls'fi and 8, and the front ends thereof are so shapedand located as to constitute push buttons conveniently acceptable forbutton controlled tuning operations.

Each push button shaft 9 is formed at its rear end with a longitudinalbore l0 of substantial length which is screw threaded to engage anadjusting screw ll fitted therein. The screws l l terminate in the spacebetween the walls I and 8 and are provided with head members I2preferably of U-shape and with guides I3 whereby 'the screws areprevented from turning.

Each push button shaft 9 and its related screw I l and head member I 2constitute an actuator and as many of these are provided as may berequired to effect the number of variable adjustments needed to tune theradio set to the desired number of broadcasting stations.

Springs l4 connecting the head members l2 with the frame 5 normallyretain the actuators 9-! l'l2 in forwardly projected inoperative position and each actuator is locked in the 'depressed operated positionby a pawl l5 pivoted at l5a and engageable in a detent l6 formed in thebutton shaft 9. The pawl I5 is of such length as 'as to assure settingof the tuning device with the I of approximately to be common to all ofthe push button shafts 9 and each of the latter is additionally providedwith a cam groove I! in which the pawl is engaged when the shafts are inforwardly projected inoperative position. The detents l6 and cam groovesI! are of annular form thereby insuring operative engagement with thepawl l5 regardless of the angular positions of the shafts 9.

The shaft l8 of the tuning device of the radio (not shown) is keyed to apinion l9 meshing with a gear segment 20 fixed to a shaft 2! rotatablymounted in the sidemembers 22 of the frame 5. The shaft 2| is providedwith crank arms 23 supporting a crank pin 24'wh'ich extends transverselyacross the frame S'b'ehind the several head members l2 so that whenanyone of the actuators 9-| Il2 is pressed rearwardly against thetension of the related spring M the head member l2 engaging the pin 24oscillates the shaft 2| and. the motion thereof is transmitted to thetuning shaft l8 through the gear segment 20 and pinion l9.

The spring 25 connected with the tuning shaft normally tends toturn thelatter in a clockwise direction, and this force acting through thepinion l9 and segment 20 normally maintains the crank pin in engagementwith the head memhers I 2 thereby taking'up whatever slack may exist inthe motion between the parts as the result of imperfections inthe'manufacture thereof.

As usual in such devices, the radio set is conditioned for the receptionof the selected radio transmitted station by predetermined angularadjustment of the tuning shaftl8 and to afford an illustrativee'xampleit is assumed that, to accommodate the range of adjustment ofthe tuning shaft 18, it is turned through an angle Accordingly, themaximum movement imparted to the crank pin 24 by the actuators 9-! I+l2is through an angle such that one-half of a revolution is imparted tothe tuning shaft l8through the segment 20 and pinion l9. e

To enable the actuators when pressed to set the tuning shaft in theproper positions to accurately tune in the predetermined broadcaststations, each actuator is associated with an adjusting deviceconsisting of an adjusting shaft 26 and gears 28 and 29 for transmittingrotary motion to the related button shaft 9 whereby through the actionof the screw threads the position of the screw II is varied with respectto the shaft 9.

Each adjusting shaft 26 is rotatably and axially movable in the walls 6and 8 and is normally held in forward inoperative position by a spring 3the forward movement being limited by a gear 21 rigidly secured to theadjusting shaft and engageable with the rear face of the wall 6. In itsforward position the adjusting shaft is locked in adjusted angularposition by a pin 3| on the wall 6 engaging between the teeth of thegear 21.

The gear 29 is rigidly fixed to the button shaft 9 and the teeth of thegear 28 extendlongitudinally of the adjusting shaft a distancesufiicient to permit full stroke of the shaft 9 while maintaining thegears 28 and 29 in mesh. In this manner the pin 3| serves not only tolock the adjusting shaft 26 in adjusted position, but followingadjustment of the actuator 9-1 |l2 the pin 3! also acts to lock it inset position.

From the foregoing it .is apparent that the crank pin 24 may be moved adistance corresponding with the desired adjustment'of the tun-' ingshaft l'8 to tune in the selected broadcast sta- :tion bymanipulation'cof the jproper actuator f 9-4 l--| 2- whichthaszbeenpreviously adjusted for that purpose. Toiimprov'ethezzprecisionof adjustment of the-'device the'thread f the screw! I andbore '80 are preferably of small pitch, and in addition the ratio otthe:gear wheels; 23 and '29 :is so selected that thevpush-button shaft -llis rotated at a reduced speednwithfirespect to the adjusting shaftlfi..By virtue tof these mechanical 'expedients the screws :ll maytbeadjusted with the utmost precision with respect to the pushcbutton.shafts 9, andinyconsequencea highdegree of accuracy in tuningvtheidev-ice connected with the shaft IB is afforded. :Furthermcre;theprovision of-the pin 31 and its association with the teeth ofagearwheel 2110f relativelylarge diameter enables the 'push button devicetobe :locked in the precisely adjusted position. 1 Assumingthatsonevof-theactuators -9-l I'-'-l 2 -has-been operated to. adjust thetuning shaft t8 :toa desired broadcast: station, the :push button shaft9 is locked by engagement of the pawl [5 with the 'detent l5,the-gearwheel 29 sliding along the teeth of the-gear wheel 28 duringactual movement of the shaft 9. Incase it may be de- 1- sired toreadjust the receiving set-for the reception ofv a station broadcastingat a difi'erent wave length, the related pushbutton-shaft 9 'is operatedand in'so doing the pawl I5 is locked by the camming actionof the groove11, thereby disengaging the pawl from the detentv 16 of them:- erativepush button :shaft :9, which "latter, together with the screw H and headmember l2 are instantly returned to inoperative position undertheinfluence of the'springl 4. *Inward movement of the newly selectedpush button shaft 9 is continued until the pawlJ'Eengages inr'the'detent l6 thereof in which position the crank arml l is 'set to adjustthe tuning-shaft l:8 to the selected station. The crank rpinZd iscausedto follow the forward movements :of't-he head members i2 under thetension ,ofqtheispring 25 and thelatter serves additionally to take upwhatever lost mo- .tion may exist 'betweenthe parts and thereby avoidsuch errors in adjustment as might result from such lost motion.

What we claim is:

1. A'device for turning. a shaft through-a predetermined anglecomprising two actuator members movable as a unit to impart movement tosaid shaft and relativelyradjustable to vary'the amplitude of'saidmovement, and means rotatable about an axis displaced from theactuatormembers and operably connected with one of said members fordisplacing said member with respect to the other member to vary therelative adjustment of said members,

2. A device for turning a shaft through a predetermined angle comprisingtwo actuator members 5 movable as a, unit to impart movement to saidshaft and relatively adjustable to vary the amplitude of said movement,means for displacing one of said actuator members with respect to theother to vary the relative adjustment of said 10 members, and means tolock said displacing means in adjusted position.

3. A device for turning a shaft through a predetermined angle comprisingtwo actuator members movable as a unit to impart movement to "said shaftand relatively adjustable to vary the determined angle comprising twoactuator mem- .-wbers;mo'vable as'a unit to impart movementto said shaftand relatively; adjustable i301 vary; the

amplitude of said movement, a rotatablennember, and a speedreducingtransmissiongear-connect- 39 ing said rotatable-"member "with "oneSOfJeSBIi'd a'c- :tuator -members for 'displaci-ng said actuatingmemberwith respectto, the otheractuating member to vary the relativeadjustment'of said ractuator members.

'5. Adevice'for turninga shaft through a; predetermined anglecomprisingtworactuatorxm'embers movable as a unit toimpart movement: to said shaftand relatively adjustabletowarythe amplitude of said -movement,-arotatable; memes her, a speed reducingtra'nsmission gearconnecting saidrotatable-member :with' one of: said ac- -tuator members for :displacingsaid i actuating member with respect to :the other actuating member tovary the relative adjustmentrofvsaid actuator -members;-a'nd'means tolock said' members in adjusted relative position.

6. A device for turning a shaft'through a:pre

determined angle comprising twoactuatorrmembers movableasa .unit toimpart-movement tosaid shaft and relativelyadjustableto vary theamplitude of said movement, .a'rotatablemember, and-a speed reducingtransmission gear connecting said rotatable member with one ofsaid-actuator members'for displacingsaid actuating memlfi ber withrespect to the otheri actuating member to vary the relative adjustment:of said actuator ;members, and a cra-nkarm-movable withinfixejd limitsand engagedzand :operable bysaidtactuator members.

7. A device for turning a shaft through awpredetermined angle comprisingtwo actuator-members havingscrew threadedicon-nections'with each other,said members ibeingimovableas'aunit to "impart movement tocsaid shaftand being: relatively adjustable by means of said threaded connectiontovary theamplitude of said: movement, means for variably turning thescrewthreadsfof one of said members with relation 'toithe'screw threadsof the other member to vary the relative adjustment of said =members,and a normally eflective locking device-for retaining said actuatormembers inrelativelyadjusted position and reliable incident to operationof said turning means.

8.. A. device: for z-tu'rningza shaft .throughxa predetermined anglecomprising two actuator members having screw threaded connections witheach other, said members being movable as a unit to impart movement tosaid shaft and being relatively adjustable by means of said threadedconnection to vary the amplitude of said movement, releasable meansnormally effective to lock said actuator members in adjusted relativeposition and operable upon release to variably turn the screw threads ofone of said members with relation to the screw threads of the othermember to vary the relative adjustment of said members, and meansnormally locking the releasable means in actuator member-lockingposition.

9. A device for turning a shaft through a predetermined angle comprisingtwo actuator members having screw threaded connections with each other,said members being movable as a unit to impart movement to said shaftand being relatively adjustable by means of said threaded connection tovary the amplitude of said movement, a rotatable member, and a speedreducing transmission gear connecting said rotatable member with one ofsaid actuator members for variably turning the screw threads of one ofsaid actuator members with relation to the screw threads of the otheractuator member to vary the relative adjustment of said actuatormembers.

10. A device for turning a shaft through a predetermined anglecomprising two actuator members having screw threaded connections witheach other, said members being movable as a unit to impart movement tosaid shaft and being relatively adjustable by means of said threadedconnection to vary the amplitude of said movement, a rotatable member, aspeed reducing transmission gear connecting said rotatable member withone of said actuator members for variably turning the screw threads ofone of said actuator members with relation to the screw threads of theother actuator member to vary the relative adjustment of said actuatormembers, and means co-acting with said rotatable member for locking saidactuator members in adjusted position.

11. A device for turning a shaft through a predetermined anglecomprising two actuator members having screw threaded connections witheach other, said members being movable as a unit to impart movement tosaid shaft and being relatively adjustable by means of said threadedconnection to vary the amplitude of said movement, a rotatable adjustingshaft, means for locking said shaft in adjusted angular position,intermeshing gear wheels connecting said shaft with one of said actuatormembers for variably turning the screw threads of said actuator memberwith relation to the screw threads of the other actuator member to varythe relative adjustment of said actuator members, said gear wheelsremaining in mesh throughout the range of unitary movement of saidactuator members whereby said locking means is eifective to lock thefirst mentioned actuator member in adjusted angular position.

12. In a device for turning a shaft through a predetermined angle, anaxially movable actuator adjustable in length and including relativelydisplaceable parts, a member movable by and in degree proportionally tothe length of said actuator, and a member rotatable about an axislocated externally of said actuator operable to variably displace saidparts for varying the length of the latter.

13. In a device for turning a shaft through a predetermined angle, anaxially movable actuator adjustable in length and including relativelydisplaceable parts, a member movable by and in degree proportionally tothe length of said actuator, a member rotatable about an axis locatedex-- ternally of said actuator operable to variably dis-- place saidparts for varying the length of the:

actuator, and means to lock said rotatable mem-' her and said actuatorin adjusted position.

14. In a device for turning a shaft through a.

predetermined angle, actuatable members having. screw threadedconnection with eachother and. movable as a unit to impart movement tosaid. shaft, one of said members being rotatable relatively to the othermember to vary the adjustment of the screw threaded connection, meansfor imparting rotary movement to said rotatable member, and an annulardetent on said rotatable member, and a pawl engageable in said detent.

15. In a device for turning a shaft through a predetermined angle,actuatable members having screw threaded connection with each other andmovable as a unit to impart movement to said shaft, one of said membersbeing rotatable relatively to the other member to vary the adjustment ofthe screw threaded connection, means for imparting rotary movement tosaid rotatable member, an annular detent on said rotatable member, apawl engageable in said detent, and an annular pawl operating cam onsaid rotatable member.

ROBERT DEMIEULENAERE. MARCEL DEMEULENAERE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thefile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

